51 Must-Read Books for Teens (That Even Adults Adore)

VIA MERCHANT

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

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Genre: Coming-of-age

For fans of: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Published in 1999, The Perks of Being a Wallflower became a cult classic because of its honest look at the lives of everyday teenagers. Through the eyes of 15-year-old Charlie, this book for teens details daily trials and tribulations while tackling hefty and controversial topics, like drug abuse, teen pregnancy and suicide. It also focuses on the roles that friendship, family and love play in helping us through difficult times. Whether you’re buying a new paperback or reading for free online, this belongs on your YA books list.

Looking for your next great book? Read four of today’s most compelling novels in the time it takes to read one with Fiction Favorites. And be sure to join the community!

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

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Genre: Contemporary fiction

For fans of: Dear Martin by Nic Stone

The recipient of countless literary honors for young adult fiction and a fixture on the New York Times bestseller list for years after its 2017 debut, Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. It focuses on the dichotomy between 16-year-old Starr Carter’s poor neighborhood and the wealthy suburban prep school she attends. After reading this social justice novel, don’t miss the movie adaptation.

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Accountable by Dashka Slater

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Genre: Nonfiction

For fans of: Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed snagged the 2024 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults. It’s not hard to see why readers are interested: This powerful nonfiction book details what happens when a social media stunt takes on a life of its own. It’s the true story of a California high school student who began posting racist and sexist memes on a private Instagram account in an attempt to make his friends laugh. He thought it would stay a little “joke” among friends. He thought wrong. This timely page-turner will get teens talking about the real-world consequences of online behavior.

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When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson

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Genre: Contemporary fiction

For fans of: I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Fans of Jandy Nelson’s I’ll Give You the Sun know the author has an astonishing way with words (which is why they’ve been clamoring for her next novel for 10 years). Well, 2024 is their lucky year. Nelson’s When the World Tips Over doesn’t disappoint. Expect more glorious prose, magical realism, sibling relationships and rich character development. “I scooped up an advanced copy of this so fast, you’d think it was made of gold,” says Tracey Neithercott, Reader’s Digest Books Editor. “Nelson’s immense talent is on display in this saga about the Fall family.”

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Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer

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Genre: Romance

For fans of: The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

The teenage years are often a time for romance—sometimes real, sometimes imagined—and YA authors are often tasked with capturing romantic longing while toeing the line of what parents or teachers consider appropriate reading material. Google searches on teen books include questions like, “Can a 14-year-old read It Ends with Us?” and “Is Shatter Me spicy?” First things first: Those books, especially Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us, do have sexual content that may be too mature for some teens, though that’s up to parents and teens themselves.

But that’s what makes YA novels like Kristin Dwyer’s 2023 debut, Some Mistakes Were Made, so great. This earnest, achingly romantic story of two childhood friends reuniting after not speaking for a year has everything teens could want in a love story (including a bit of steaminess) without going full-throttle on the spice. Tenderhearted teens will love tagging along with Ellis and Easton through this romance.

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Rez Ball by Byron Graves

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Genre: Sports fiction

For fans of: After the Shot Drops by Randy Ribay

Published in 2023, Rez Ball has swept up accolades like the American Indian Youth Literature Award and the Morris Award for a debut novel. This coming-of-age story has a hint of autobiography: Like protagonist Tre Brun, author Byron Graves is Ojibwe. And like Tre, Graves loved playing basketball for his reservation high school team. The story follows Tre and his desperate attempts to take the rez team to state finals—to honor their community and to fill the big shoes of his hero, his late brother.

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This Book Won’t Burn by Samira Ahmed

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Genre: Contemporary fiction

For fans of: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King

Most teens understand the danger of book banning, and if you (or your teen) fall into that camp, Samira Ahmed’s 2024 novel is for you. This Book Won’t Burn centers on Noor Kahn, who moves to a new school and finds that her new library is removing books it deems inappropriate. Touching on topics such as what makes a book “appropriate” for teens, which types of books are most often banned and what teens can do to fight back, this is an important novel for our age of increased book banning. And it’s a smart pick for a parent-teen buddy read.

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I’d Rather Burn Than Bloom by Shannon C.F. Rogers

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Genre: Contemporary fiction

For fans of: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Since its publication in 2023, I’d Rather Burn Than Bloom was named the young adult winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. Told in two timelines—”then” and “now”—this tenderhearted coming-of-age story begins when Marisol Martin loses her mother. Marisol and her mom weren’t even close, but now the Filipina American teen feels confused, stuck and haunted without someone to bicker with, someone to pit herself against when she’s angry. Even as her anger and sadness burn, Marisol must keep living daily life, including making sure her dad and brother are navigating their own grief. This fresh, loving take on family dynamics, cultural identity and healing love and friendship will surely win over teens from all backgrounds.

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Check & Mate by Ali Hazlewood

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Genre: Romance

For fans of: Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert and I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang

Want to know what teenagers are reading these days? Look no further than Check & Mate. Winner of the title “Best Young Adult Fiction” in the 2023 Goodreads Choice Awards, this fun rivals-to-lovers rom-com centers on two chess prodigies who couldn’t be more different. Eighteen-year-old Mallory is too busy taking care of her sisters and holding down a job to even think about chess anymore. But 20-year-old Nolan, the reigning chess world champion, wants to play her. How can she refuse when there’s cash on the line? This emotional, entertaining YA novel would make the perfect graduation gift for a brainy teen—yes, it’s about chess, but it’s also a great beach read for summer.

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Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt

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Genre: Memoir

For fans of: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Frank McCourt’s 1996 New York Times bestselling and Pulitzer Prize–winning memoir tells his story of growing up as an impoverished child in Ireland and overcoming his circumstances. What gets McCourt through a series of tragic events are his relationships with his mother and father, siblings, neighbors and friends. Though written for adults, Angela’s Ashes will inspire teen readers to make the most of what they have and encourage them to persevere and overcome any odds they may face.

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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

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Genre: LGBTQ romance

For fans of: What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

If the awards on the cover didn’t give it away, let us assure you that Aristotle and Dante isn’t one of those YA books you can read and easily move on from. Unfolding lyrically and emotionally, the groundbreaking book unpacks the complex relationship between two boys—one of whom has not come to fully accept his own identity or the dynamics of his family. This 2012 title is a heartfelt and thought-provoking read from an LGBTQ author who shows teens what it means to embrace who you are and who you can become. Readers will be happy to know a sequel was published in 2021.

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Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

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Genre: Nonfiction

For fans of: The Beautiful Struggle by Ta-Nehisi Coates

This 2015 nonfiction book is an in-depth examination of the history and current state of race relations in America. Written as a series of letters to the author’s 15-year-old son, Between the World and Me introduces readers to the complex societal and economic factors that affect Black citizens in contemporary America. The book became an instant bestseller, and renowned author Toni Morrison called it “required reading” for teens and adults alike.

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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

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Genre: Romance

For fans of: Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis

Hazel Lancaster believes her life is over. Cancer has hijacked her world. But then she meets Augustus Waters, and the way he makes her laugh—the way he makes her feel seen—makes her want to live again. John Green’s heartbreaking work of contemporary fiction made waves for its bold, clear-eyed look at teenage mortality. Published in 2012, The Fault in Our Stars still captivates young adults with themes of life and death, true love and enduring friendship. Green has penned several good books for teens, but this one is especially worth reading for anyone who loves sad books. Just stock up on tissues first.

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The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

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Genre: Fantasy

For fans of: Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson and To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Queen of fae fiction Holly Black has crafted yet another page-turning fairy tale in her characteristic style: rich with detail, imagination and well-developed characters. This 2018 series starter introduces readers to Jude, a human stolen away to a realm filled with fae. There, she meets the cruel and alluring youngest prince, who just may be her ticket to the life she always wanted: a life at court.

You’ll find plenty of enemies-to-lovers romances in YA fiction these days, but few do the trope so well. “What I love so much about The Cruel Prince—and the entire series—is that the hate is so believable,” says Neithercott. “Holly Black writes morally gray characters so well. I truly believed Jude had a reason to hate Cardan, the wicked prince of a Faerie, where treachery is common and backstabbing literal.”

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A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

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Genre: Memoir

For fans of: War Child: A Child Soldier’s Story by Emmanuel Jal

A gripping 2007 memoir, A Long Way Gone tells the true story of Ishmael Beah, who was forced to become a rebel soldier at age 12, during a civil war in Sierra Leone. By 13, he had become the very thing he was running from: a violent, unrelenting killer. When he was 16 years old, UNICEF intervened, removing Beah from the army and giving him hope for a new life. Teen readers will be moved by this young author’s story of survival and his ability to overcome a tragic childhood to become an ambassador for peace. If you’re searching out books by Black authors, be sure to look globally—and don’t sleep on this powerful story.

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Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume

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Genre: Contemporary fiction

For fans of: Just as Long as We’re Together by Judy Blume

Considered one of Judy Blume‘s best YA books, Tiger Eyes tells the story of Davey, a 15-year-old girl whose father was murdered in a violent crime. Afterward, Davey and her brother temporarily relocate to New Mexico to stay with relatives, where she meets new friends and learns to let go of her pain and live again. Although this teen book was written in 1981, more than 30 years ago, the themes of grief and mental health are just as relevant to teen readers today.

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The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

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Genre: Coming-of-age

For fans of: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Chances are, this is one of the books you read in high school—I know I did!—but it’s worth a second look. The Catcher in the Rye (1951), one of the most historically banned books, is often considered the original “teen angst” novel. Protagonist Holden Caulfield is a disaffected and alienated 16-year-old who flunks out of his latest boarding school for not “applying himself.” Though the holiday vacation is near, he’s not expected home for a few days—so Holden decides to take a train to New York City and stay in a hotel, where he finds himself grappling with a succession of very adult-themed situations.

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Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh

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Genre: Coming-of-age

For fans of: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

A National Book Award finalist, Candice Iloh’s 2020 novel, Every Body Looking, tells the story of Ada, who finds independence for the first time when she leaves home for her freshman year at a historically Black college. This work of contemporary fiction tackles tough subjects such as sexuality, addiction and race—all while focusing on Ada’s personal journey toward discovering her truth.

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Dear Martin by Nic Stone

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Genre: Contemporary fiction

For fans of: Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Nic Stone tackles the heavy issues of racism, discrimination and inequality in Dear Martin, published in 2017. Widely considered a must-read in the canon of social justice literature, the novel tells the story of Ivy-league-bound Justyce McAllister, a young Black teen who becomes a victim of racial profiling following a crime. In the aftermath, Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. If you’ve ever wondered why reading is so important, pick up this thought-provoking and conversation-sparking title.

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Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman

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Genre: Contemporary fiction

For fans of: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Published in 2000, Stuck in Neutral is a contemporary fiction book about Shawn McDaniel, a 14-year-old boy with cerebral palsy. He’s highly intelligent yet unable to move his muscles, feed himself or communicate. Through his first-person narrative, he remains positive about his life, even when people treat him like he has brain damage. This short book forces teen readers to think about the assumptions they make about people with disabilities and addresses tough topics, like euthanasia and quality of life.

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This Is My America by Kim Johnson

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Genre: Contemporary fiction

For fans of: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Kim Johnson’s 2020 debut novel, This Is My America, follows Tracy Beaumont, a 17-year-old Black girl trying to save her father, who is on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. In the midst of her desperate attempts, her track star brother is accused of killing a white girl. This powerful and provocative novel takes an unflinching look at race and injustice. Don’t assume it’s one of those books for teens that only high schoolers will appreciate—it’ll appeal to socially conscious readers of any age. With plenty of fodder for a lively discussion, This Is My America makes for a great book club pick.

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The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

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Genre: Fantasy

For fans of: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

“Young adult” might not have been a category when J.R.R. Tolkien published his tale in 1937, but no list of the best YA novels of all time should leave Bilbo Baggins behind. The Hobbit immerses readers in the world of Middle-earth, a magical realm of hobbits, elves, dwarves and more. In this classic book, Bilbo is summoned on a great adventure that will change his life forever—and the beautiful tale of friendship, loyalty and sacrifice may well change the lives of readers willing to embark on the dangerous business of stepping into the story.

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American Street by Ibi Zoboi

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Genres: Contemporary fiction and magical realism

For fans of: Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Haitian American author Ibi Zoboi’s 2017 debut novel, American Street, tells the story of Fabiola Toussaint, who journeys to America from Haiti with her mother, hoping to achieve the American dream. When her mother is detained upon arrival, Fabiola winds up living with relatives on the corner of American Street and Joy Road in Detroit. There, she must walk the social tightrope of living in a brand-new world while holding on to her Haitian roots. The winner of numerous accolades and a National Board Award finalist, Zoboi’s novel—truly one of the best books for teens of the past decade—provides an honest, unfiltered glimpse into what it’s like to be an immigrant living in the United States.

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Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

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Genre: Dark fantasy

For fans of: Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire and The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Fans of genre-blending YA books will love Ransom Riggs’s 2011 debut, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. When I picked up the book many years ago, I was delighted with how Riggs wove a quirky, fanciful yet poignant fantasy story through a mix of words and photographs. The novel details the story of Jacob Magellan Portman, who is on a quest to learn more about the stories his grandfather told him about surviving as a Jew during World War II.

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Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

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Genre: Literary thriller

For fans of: When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds

Jason Reynolds’s fast-paced thriller from 2017 grapples with the brutal ripple effects of gun violence. Long Way Down tells the story of Will, a 15-year-old boy seeking revenge after his brother’s murder. The simple setting—the entire story takes place on an elevator—is juxtaposed with intricate character interactions that occur as Will journeys from floor to floor.

“A mainstay in the modern YA canon, Long Way Down is a book that is truly an experience,” says Strolle. “If there was any book that I could scrub from my memory so that I could read it again for the first time, it’s this one.”

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A Separate Peace by John Knowles

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Genre: Coming-of-age

For fans of: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger and A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

John Knowles’s 1959 novel, A Separate Peace, has been beloved by both young readers and adults since it was first published. This coming-of-age classic makes frequent appearances on AP reading lists, but its prose appeals to all teens. Set during World War II, it tells the story of Gene Forrester and his experiences as he transitions to adulthood after spending his adolescence at an elite prep school in New Hampshire. A gripping and poignant read, it tackles such weighty themes as identity, patriotism and the effects of war.

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Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

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Genre: Contemporary fiction

For fans of: Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas

If predictability is your reading pet peeve and unreliable narrators are your jam, you’re in for a treat with Tiffany D. Jackson’s 2017 debut, Allegedly. It’s a powerful and raw look at our justice system that Publisher’s Weekly rightfully called “an absorbing and exceptional first novel.” Though you’ll spend the book in the mind of Mary Addison—a teen who (allegedly) committed murder—Jackson’s storytelling is so deft that it’ll take you until the end to figure out what really happened.

“Talk about suspense!” says Neithercott. “I devoured every last page of Tiffany Jackson’s dark thriller, and when I was done, I wanted to go back and reread it all over again. It’s a stunning, sucker punch of a novel.”

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Divergent by Veronica Roth

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Genre: Dystopian

For fans of: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

One of the many hits that came out of the dystopian frenzy of the 2010s, Veronica Roth’s Divergent (published in 2011) isn’t just a stellar dystopian novel; it’s an edge-of-your seat sci-fi thriller that’ll have you gobbling up the whole series. In this society gone wrong, the world is divided into five factions: Dauntless (the brave), Erudite (the intellectuals), Abnegation (the selfless) and Candor (the honest). But heroine Tris Prior soon realizes that she does not fit into a single category—she is, as the title suggests, divergent. Thus begins her quest to hide her status while saving the crumbling world around her. 

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The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

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Genre: Nonfiction

For fans of: Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

This is one of the few nonfiction books for kids on this list of the best books for teens, but we would be remiss to pass over this 1947 must-read. Both heartwarming and chilling, Anne Frank’s diary provides a glimpse into history like few texts can. The diary details life hidden in the “Secret Annex,” where Anne’s family and friends stayed tucked away, hoping the war would end (and not in Nazi Germany’s favor). This heartrending classic will spark discussions of love, friendship and coming-of-age.

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The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

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Genre: Historical fiction

For fans of: The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe and Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

The Book Thief is the fictitious tale of a girl named Liesel who is living in Nazi-occupied Germany during the Holocaust. In order to read, she has to steal books, even as they are being marked for burning by Nazi bonfires. But that’s just the barest hint of what you can expect from this remarkable story.

“It’s true that this is one of the greatest YA novels of all time, but I’d argue it’s also one of the greatest novels of all time, period,” says Neithercott. “Told from the point of view of Death, the book is an extraordinary look at hope through tragedy. This is a powerfully moving story that deserves to be read and reread—by teens and adults alike. Keep a tissue box handy; when you’re done, you will feel Zusak’s words: ‘My heart is so tired.’ And you’ll be better for it.”

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Lord of the Flies by William Golding

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Genre: Classic fiction

For fans of: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray and Wilder Girls by Rory Power

Adults who return to this classic high school English class book often find that it’s much more appealing the second time around. First published in 1954, Lord of the Flies tells the story of a group of British boys stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash. On their own, with no adults to guide them, they’re left to fend for themselves. As disasters unfurl and jealousy rages, the boys quickly discover a life without grown-ups is not as freeing or as fun as they believed it would be. If you’re debating between book formats, know this: The audiobook is narrated by the author himself.

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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

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Genre: Dystopian fiction

For fans of: Divergent by Veronica Roth

If you have a teen reader in your house, chances are you’ve heard of The Hunger Games. Kicking off one of the best teen book series ever written, it hit shelves in 2008 to critical and mass acclaim. The book is set in Panem, a futuristic and dystopian version of the United States where children are selected annually to participate in a televised, fight-to-the-death battle called—you guessed it—the Hunger Games. The rebellion inspired by the story’s heroine—sharp and spirited Katniss Everdeen—will captivate readers of all ages. If you love the series, you’re in luck: The Hunger Games saga continues in 2025 with Sunrise on the Reaping, which takes readers to Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games.

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Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

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Genre: Contemporary fiction

For fans of: Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

This 2006 teen novel is bound to give you a massive book hangover. It takes readers to an Australian boarding school, where Taylor Markham leads a territory “war” between boarders, townies and local cadets. As the plot unfolds, so too does the tragic tale of a group of teens whose lives are more entwined with Taylor’s than she (or the reader) can imagine.

“When someone asks me about my favorite book,” says Neithercott, “I hand them Melina Marchetta’s Jellicoe Road. (Though not literally. I’m not giving up my well-worn copy!) I’ve read this book at least six times, and each time I do, I marvel at the story: prose so gorgeous you want to underline every sentence, characters so real you’re half convinced they exist, a setting that drops you straight into Australia and a braiding of heartbreak and hope that makes me tear up with every single read. Marchetta brilliantly structures this into two timelines—stick with it; I promise it pays off. I truly cannot recommend this book often enough or highly enough.”

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Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

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Genre: Contemporary fiction

For fans of: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky and All the Rage by Courtney Summers

Speak, a 1999 novel by Laurie Halse Anderson, tackles the weighty subject of sexual assault. The story is told through the eyes of high school freshman Melinda Sordino, who is raped at a party by an older classmate. She calls 911 but is afraid to tell the police what happened, so she runs off and instead tells no one. As a result of the trauma, she falls into a deep depression and stops talking almost entirely. The novel received awards and critical acclaim for its realistic account of the aftermath of rape. Targeting readers age 14 and up, Speak has been lauded for opening a dialogue about sexual harassment and assault among both teens and adults. 

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Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

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Genre: Fantasy

For fans of: Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Laini Taylor’s 2011 novel might begin like contemporary fiction in modern-day Prague, but it quickly becomes clear that heroine Karou is no ordinary teen, and this is no ordinary Prague. Raised by monsters and wearing wishes around her neck, Karou is something more—but what or who that is remains a mystery even to her. When she crosses paths with a mysterious stranger, world-altering events are set into motion. The must-read start to Taylor’s bestselling series, Daughter of Smoke & Bone promises a swoon-worthy fantasy romance and highly original lore. But the imaginative book is worth a read for the gorgeous prose alone.

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Cinder by Marissa Meyer

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Genre: Science fiction

For fans of: Skyward by Brandon Sanderson and Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Smash together traditional fairy tales with a splash of sci-fi storytelling, and what do you get? Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles series. In 2012’s Cinder, the first book of the series, teenager Cinder Lihn is a cyborg mechanic living in New Beijing. But when she becomes entangled with a prince named Kai, she suddenly realizes the weight of forbidden attraction and how it fits into a massive intergalactic dispute. Readers will enjoy themes of modern romance, loyalty between friend and country and what it means to betray.

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The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

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Genre: Coming-of-age

For fans of: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

This 1983 book by Mexican American author Sandra Cisneros is widely considered a modern classic. Is it technically a YA novel? That’s up for debate. The House on Mango Street was published before the industrywide categorization of young adult books, and it centers on a 12-year-old girl. Still, it’s taught across the country in high school classrooms, and it’s undoubtedly one of those books for teens that everyone needs to read in their lifetime. The novel follows a year in the life of Esperanza Cordero, a Latina girl in a low-income Chicago neighborhood. Partially based on Cisneros’s life, this coming-of-age story addresses themes of gender, sexuality and race. If your teen loves reading about cross-cultural identity, be sure to check out more books by Latinx authors.

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The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

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Genre: Classic literature

For fans of: Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead

If you somehow escaped school without reading The Outsiders, you’ll want to pick up a copy now. (And we’re not the only ones highly recommending the book!) This 1967 novel by S.E. Hinton focuses on two weeks in the life of 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, a member of the working-class Greasers, and his rivals, the upper-crust Socials. Beloved by readers of all generations, The Outsiders is widely considered a groundbreaking piece of literature that paved the way for the entire YA genre—and spawned one of literature’s most famous lines of dialogue: “Stay gold, Ponyboy.”

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Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali

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Genre: Contemporary romance

For fans of: The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon and Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Looking for a contemporary love story that also tackles issues of identity and loyalty in this multicultural world? You’ll find it in Morris Award finalist S.K. Ali’s Love from A to Z. In this 2020 book, which is split between two characters’ perspectives, you’ll follow the unfolding relationship between two Muslim teens who meet on vacation. The resulting exploration of culture, prejudice, loss and hope will resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds.

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The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan

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Genre: Magical realism

For fans of: Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

In The Astonishing Color of After, published in 2018, protagonist Leigh Chen Sanders is half Asian, half white. After her mother kills herself, Leigh decides to travel to Taiwan to uncover her family history, meet her grandparents and try to make sense of her life and the lives of those around her.

“This book is nothing less than astonishing,” says Strolle. “Emily X.R. Pan has some of the most beautiful prose and uses it to explore grief in a searing and beautiful way that left me in tears.” As teen books go, this is one of the most haunting, though Pan adds a touch of whimsy through magical realism.

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Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

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Genre: Classic fiction

For fans of: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

On top of being one of the best books for teens, I think Little Women is one of the best mother-daughter books and sisterhood stories of all time. Though the 1868 classic has been translated to film several times, there’s nothing quite like getting lost in its yellowing paper pages. Follow the divergent adventures of the March sisters in each of their unique coming-of-age tales. The strong theme of female independence versus familial duty makes for great book club discussions.

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Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

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Genre: Verse novel

For fans of: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

Elizabeth Acevedo’s 2020 novel, Clap When You Land, tells the story of two girls across the world from each other as they both learn that their fathers have died in a tragic plane crash. Told in beautiful, heartrending verse, the novel will immediately attract fans of poetry books. But Strolle says the book may also appeal to teens who don’t love poetry. “Whether it’s the fact that I’m a sucker for two dynamic point-of-view characters or just that I had fallen more deeply in love with novels in verse, this is a book I recommend when people are looking for a great book and don’t have further specifications,” she says.

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Watership Down by Richard Adams

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Genre: Classic fiction

For fans of: Animal Farm by George Orwell and Fire Bringer by David Clement-Davies

Richard Adams’s 1972 novel, Watership Down, may have been written for an adult audience, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a must-read book for teens. It’s such a monumental work of fiction that it’s been a bestseller for decades. This classic novel follows several rabbits as they try to escape destruction while dreaming of a better life. Yes, the main characters are animals. And no, this isn’t a book for young children. Expect themes of survival, bravery and hope despite the odds.

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Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

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Genre: Thriller

For fans of: A Snake Falls to the Earth by Darcie Little Badger

Angeline Boulley’s 2021 debut, Firekeeper’s Daughter, is one of the best thrillers for teen readers—the kind that hooks you from the start. “Keeping tension thrumming on each page, Boulley weaves a story that has gotten rave reviews from everyone I’ve handed it to, telling them they have to read it immediately,” raves Strolle.

In this book about identity and addiction, Daunis Fontaine wrestles with who she is as a biracial, unenrolled tribal member living outside the Ojibwe reservation. After witnessing a murder, she goes undercover to learn the truth about what happened—and about the community just outside her door. Written by a Native American author, the #ownvoices book has racked up a bunch of awards, from the Printz Medal to a Morris Award to an American Indian Youth Literature Award.

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Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

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Genre: Romance

For fans of: The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord and Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

If you’re a fan of Sarah Dessen’s young adult fiction, we know what you’re thinking: How did you pick just one? Admittedly, it was tough. The author has won the Margaret A. Edwards and Romantic Times Career Achievement awards for her contributions to romantic teen literature. But her 2006 novel, Just Listen, epitomizes the genre with the story of model Annabel and artsy, brooding Owen. With classic coming-of-age themes, this contemporary romance is both an easy read and a conversation-sparker.

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A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

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Genre: Historical fiction

For fans of: What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez and The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks

What do you get when a YA author stirs together historical fiction, Gothic realism and a pinch of the paranormal? A Great and Terrible Beauty, the 2003 start to Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle series. Set in 1895, the novel follows 16-year-old Gemma to boarding school, where she soon realizes there’s more to the world than meets the eye. The book takes dark turns at times—beware of situations involving suicide, in particular.

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Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

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Genre: Graphic memoir

For fans of: I Was Their American Dream by Malak Ghairib

Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood is part graphic novel, part memoir. The 2004 book illustrates the clash between standard daily life and turbulent war during the Islamic Revolution in the 1970s. Author Terence Ward wrote of it, “Persepolis opens a rare door to an understanding of events that still haunt America while shining a bright light on the personal humanity and humor so much alive in Iranian families today.” Teens will lose themselves in these illustrated pages, which cover classic themes of love and loss while also delving into the nuances of cultural identity.

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Eragon by Christopher Paolini

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Genre: Fantasy

For fans of: His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman

If you think Eragon, Christopher Paolini’s first installment of the Inheritance Cycle, is more middle-grade than young adult, you’re not completely wrong. Though the protagonist is 15 years old, this fantasy book series begins at a slightly easier reading level, though the content will appeal to readers of young adult fiction. When first released in 2003, Eragon was one of the most popular books for teen boys because of its page-turning adventures and blend of myth and magic. So what makes this one of the best books for teens? Eragon manages to capture the imaginations of students with its quintessential fantasy plot and dystopian undertones. Themes include friendship, true home and good versus evil.

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One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite

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Genre: Contemporary fiction

For fans of: Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley and Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam

Published in 2021, One of the Good Ones is a book for every teen who has wondered whether their life matters. It’s also a beautiful, relatable story for any teen who has lost someone they love. When Kezi Smith is murdered after a social justice event, her family is left grieving the person they lost and bewildered by the perfect, pristine Kezi immortalized by the world. This contemporary work of fiction will surprise you with its twists and reel you in with its honest exploration of fact versus fiction. Expect passages that explore themes of prejudice and justice.

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Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

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Genres: Coming-of-age and LGBTQ+ romance

For fans of: Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender and Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Dear Blue, writes 16-year-old Simon Spier to the boy he’s been messaging in secret. Because here’s the thing: Simon is totally gay and totally not out. One of the most beloved LGBTQ+ YA books, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda tackles the reality of coming-of-age—and coming out—with wit and humor. Half the fun is guessing which character is the mysterious Blue; the other half is watching Simon embrace his true self. With themes of family, friendship, sexuality and identity, this 2015 novel will appeal to teens trying to figure out who they are. Once done, they can watch the love story unfold in the movie and TV show adaptations.

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American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

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Genres: Graphic novel and fantasy

For fans of: Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American by Laura Gao

This winner of the 2007 Printz Award is a graphic novel for teens that doubles as a modern fable told in three separate stories. Don’t miss Gene Luen Yang’s creative force and imaginative depiction of what it’s like to be the target of prejudiced thinking.

“Gene Luen Yang’s Boxers was the first graphic novel I ever read, and it didn’t take very long for me to delve into the equally fantastic American Born Chinese,” says Strolle. “Recently the subject of a visually stunning adaptation on Disney+, American Born Chinese is a book that feels so quintessentially YA, balancing a search for identity with school, friends and more.”

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At Reader’s Digest, we’ve been sharing our favorite books for over 100 years. We’ve worked with bestselling authors including Susan Orlean, Janet Evanovich and Alex Haley, whose Pulitzer Prize–winning Roots grew out of a project funded by and originally published in the magazine. Through Fiction Favorites (formerly Select Editions and Condensed Books), Reader’s Digest has been publishing anthologies of abridged novels for decades. We’ve worked with some of the biggest names in fiction, including James Patterson, Ruth Ware, Kristin Hannah and more. The Reader’s Digest Book Club, helmed by Books Editor Tracey Neithercott, introduces readers to even more of today’s best fiction by upcoming, bestselling and award-winning authors. For this piece, Leandra Beabout tapped her experience as a longtime journalist who’s written dozens of articles about books for Reader’s Digest to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

• Rachel Strolle, children’s librarian and the teen services coordinator for a Chicago-area library
• Goodreads Choice Awards 2023: “Best Young Adult Fiction”
• Asian/Pacific Americans Librarians Association: “Literature Awards”
• American Indian Library Association: “American Indian Youth Literature Award”
• American Library Association: “The William C. Morris YA Debut Award”
• American Library Association: “YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults”